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In a dramatic session of parliament after posting of the 11-minute audio tape on YouTube, Erdogan said his political enemies had penetrated encrypted state communications.

Growing political uncertainty around the government and its reaction to the tapes, which Reuters could not authenticate, hit Turkish assets amid broader weakness in emerging markets.

Opinion polls taken before Monday's posting show Erdogan's popularity little affected by the corruption scandal which broke on Dec. 17 with the detention of businessmen close to him and three ministers' sons.

Erdogan took over a country in 2002 mired in political factionalism and economic crisis.

The cleric denies government accusations it drew on this network to undermine Erdogan after a political falling out between the two men.

Erdogan remains far and away Turkey's most popular politician.

The recordings surfaced two days after Erdogan's AK Party began campaigning for March local elections that will be followed later in the year by presidential polls that could decide Erdogan's political future after 11 years in power.